Pump



Jan. 20, 1942. J. F GOULD PUMP Filed Oct. 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1ZZTEu-E INVENTOR.

I Jan. 20, 1942. J. F. GOULD PUMP Filed Oct. 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2IN VEN TOR Ja/m E 60w z;

1942- J. F. GOULD I 2,270,434

PUMP Filed Oct. 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet a Jan. 20, 1942. J. F. GOULD2,270,434

PUMP I Filed Oct. 12, 1940 -4 Sheets-Sheet 4 z fi IN VEN TOR.

y Ja/m/ A 60010,

Patented Jan. 20,. 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP John F. Gould,Little Rock, Ark. Application October 12, 1940, Serial No. 360,982

12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to pumps, and more particularly topumps for elevating water by means of compressed air instead of with theuse of the usual reciprocating pistons.

The principal object of the invention isto provide a pressure-operatedpump including a cylinder adapted to receive a charge of waterto bepumped and fromwhich the water will be raisedto the place of utilizationby the admission of compressed airto the cylinder, said cylinder havingelectrically operated means for admitting the compressedair thereinto,to discharge the water therefrom, and for releasing the compressed airin order that the cylinder may become re-charged with water, theelectrically operated means being controlled by the level of the waterin the cylinder.

Another object is to provide an arrangement whereby a plurality of thesaid cylinders may be arranged one above another for use in deep Wellswith air at a relatively low pressure, the water being forced from thelowermost cylinder, or terminal unit, to the first auxiliary unitthereabove and continuing in a step-by-step manner from one cylinder tothe next until it reaches the point of utilization.

While this invention can be used for pumping liquid of any kind with theuse of any fluid under pressure as a lifting force, it will be describedherein as used for pumping water with the use of compressed air.

With the foregoing and otherv objects in view, which will appear as thisdescription proceeds,

the invention resides in the combination and line 3 s of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View through the head of the terminalunit,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing an auxiliary unit withparts in front elevation,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an auxiliary unit,

Figl 7 is a detail view showing the type of a5 mercury switch used inconnection with the invention, together with its mounting, and

Fig. 8 illustrates the manner in which auxiliary units are used inconnection with the terminal unit.

Referring to the drawings, I0 designates a hollow cylinder to the upperend of which there is fitteda circular head II and to the lower end ofwhich is fitted a circular foot plate l2 which has an opening |2athrough its center. In the under face of the head II is an annulargroove l3'in which the upper end of the cylinder I0 is seated, acorresponding groove l4 being formed in the upper face of the foot platel2 to receive the lower end of the cylinder I0. If found necessary inorder to provide water-tight joints, gaskets may be fitted in thesegrooves. The foot plate I2 is provided with a number of perforations asindicated at l5, and resting loosely upon its upper face is a circularfoot valve l6 having a central circular opening therethrough. The underface of the foot plate I2 is provided with an annular groove I8corresponding with the groove l4, and seated therein is the upper end ofa cylindrical screen l9, the lower end of which is seated in a groove 20formed in the upper face of a closure plate 2| and also correspondingwith the groove l8. The head II has a central bore Ila therethrough, andinto its lower end is threaded the upper end of a discharge pipe section22 having its lower end terminating a short distance above the footvalve l6. Welded, or otherwise suitably secured, within the lower end ofthe pipe section 22 is an end of a relatively short pipe section 23 ofless diameter than the section 22. The section 23 extends downwardlythrough the openings I1 and |2a of the foot valve and foot plate,respectively, and has its lower end threaded. A pipe coupling 24 isscrewed onto this threaded-end so that its upper end engages and bindstightly against the under face of the foot plate |2. The coupling 24thus forces the foot plate l2 towards the head so that the cylinder I 0is clamped tightly therebetween. A pipe nipple 25 is screwed into thelower end of the coupling 24 and protrudes througha central opening. inthe closure plate 2|. Screwed onto the protruding end of this nipple andinto tight engagement with the under face of the plate 2| is a cap 26which serves to close the nipple and also to force the closure plate 2|towards the foot plate l2 and thus clamp the screen I 9 firmly betweenthe said plates.

As the pipe section 23 is of less diameter than that of the section 22,and is fitted therein the lower end of the section 22 presents ashoulder 21 which serves as a stop to limit the upward movement of thefoot valve l6. In the side of the pipe section 22, adjacent its lowerend, is an opening 28 to permit admission of water to be pumped.Threaded into the upper end of the bore (1 of the head II is thedischarge pipe 29 for conveying water from the cylinder H] to the pointof utilization. Extending downwardly into the head II from its upperface is an arcuate passage llb, as shown in Fig. 3, the lower end ofwhich communicates with the bore ||a between the upper and lower ends ofthe pipes 22 and 29 respectively, the upper or outer end of whicharcuate passage is normally closed by a screw plug He. The passage ||bserves as means for admission to the bore Ila of a ball check valve 22awhich is normally seated upon the upper end of the pipe 22.

Formed in the peripheral face of the cylindrical head II is a recess 30having a top wall 3|, a bottom wall 32, and a rear wall 33. The edgefaces of the walls 3| and 32 are rabbeted to receive an arcuate closureplate 34 which is preferably held to said walls by screws 34a. The plate34 thus serves as a removable closure for the recess 30.

Extending into the head through the rear wall 33 of the recess 3|! is atapered bore or valve seat 35 in which is seated a rotary valve 36having an axial stem 31 which protrudes into the recess 39. Surroundingthis stem are spaced packing rings 38' upon the opposing faces of whichare washers 39 seated against which washers are the ends of a coilspring 40 which surrounds the stem 31 Threaded into the outer end of thebore 35 is a packing gland 4| which serves to compress the spring 40 andthereby not only compresses the packing rings 38 through the medium ofthe washers 39 but also holds the valve 36 snugly in its seat as will beclearly understood by reference to the drawings. To provide means forlubricating the valve 33, a passage 35a extends downwardly through thehead H to the valve seat 35 and has a closure plug 35b. Passing throughthe valve 36 and spaced axially thereof are slots 35a and 36b which areat an angle to each other and are adapted to register alternately withair inlet and exhaust passages designated respectively at 36c and 36d,upon partial rotation of the valve 36 The air passages 36c and 36dextend downwardly through the head II and intersect the valve seat 35Threaded into the outer end of the inlet passage 360 is a pipe 36cwhichleads from a source of compressed air not shown, and threaded intothe exhaust passage 36d is an exhaust pipe 36].

Extending through the bottom wall 33 of the recess 39, approximately atits center, is a passage 3'9a, and positioned within the recess 39directly over the upper end of this passage is a supporting memberdesignated generally at 42 formed of hard rubber or other nonconductorof electricity. The member 42 is secured to the bottom wall 32 by screws43, and has a recess 44 in its under side which communicates with theinterior of the cylinder l0 through the passage 30a. Between thesupporting member 42 and the wall 32 on which it rests is a gasket 45 topro vide a water-tight joint. As shown in Fig. 4, extending upwardlyfrom the ends of the supporting member 42 are flanges 46 which supportthe ends of a tube 41 formed of non-magnetic material such as fibre or anon-magnetic metal. Surrounding the tube 41' and spaced apart by aninsulator 48 are solenoids 49 and 50. Slidably mounted in the tube 41 isa core 5| which is adapted to reciprocate between the ends of the tubeand pass into the solenoids 49 and 50 when these solenoids arealternately energized in a manner to be described later herein. Themovement of the core 5| is limited by stops 46a and 46b mounted on theflanges 46. These stops overlie the ends of the tube and are engaged bythe ends of the core when an opening through the valve 35 is inalinement with an air passage. The length of the core is such that whenan end thereof engages a stop overlying one extremity of the tube 41,its other end will extend slightly within the solenoid at the oppositeend of the tube. Pivoted to one end of the core 5| is an end of aconnecting rod 52. The other end of the rod 52 is pivoted to one end ofa crank 53 which has its other end fixed to the stem 31 of the valve 36.

The solenoids. 49 and 50 each have one end of their windings connectedtogether by a screw 54 mounted in the insulator 48 and have the otherend of their windings respectively connected to the upper ends ofbinding posts 55 and 56 which pass through the upper wall of the recess44.

Rockably mounted on a pin 51 supported in a wall of the recess 44 is anangle bracket 58, one arm of which supports a mercury switch indicatedin general at 59 and having a pair of contacts at each end of itsmercury tube 69, the contacts of each pair being adapted to beelectrically connected in the manner common to mercury switches One ofeach pair of contacts is connected by a wire 6| to the inner end of abinding post 62 mounted upon the supporting member 42 and extending intothe recess 44, while the other contacts of each pair are respectivelyconnected to the binding posts 55 and 56 by wires cm. Leading from asuitable source of electricity and extending into the recess 30 throughits upper wall 3| are electrical conductors 53 and 64, the former beingconnected to the screw 54 and thus to an end of the windings of thesolenoids 49 and 50, while the conductor 64 is connected to the bindingpost 62. It will thus be seen that when the mercury tube 69 is rocked inone direction, the terminals at one end thereof will become electricallyconnected so as to energize the solenoid 49, and when rocked in theopposite direction, the terminals at the opposite end will becomeelectrically connected so as to energize the solenoid 50.

Secured to the discharge pipe section 22 slightly above its opening 28is a bracket 65 to which is pivoted a frame 66 which supports a float61. The bracket 65 is provided with a laterally projectin stop 68 whichserves to prevent the frame 66 from rising above a horizontal position.Also secured to the pipe section 22, but adjacent its upper end is abracket 59 to which is pivoted a frame 1|) which supports a float 1|,the outer end of the frame being forked as at 12. Pivoted to the freeend of the frame 66 is the lower end of a rod 13 the upper end of whichis slidably connected to the lower end of a rod 8|] by means of a slipjoint 15. This slip joint consists of an elongated body 16 having anaxial bore 11 extending into its lower end and having a transverse slot18 intersecting said bore. The upper end of the rod 13 extends looselyinto the bore 11, and secured in a perforation through the upper end ofthe rod is a pin 19 the ends of which protrude into and are adapted toslide within the slot 18. The pin 19 thus serves to limit the movementof the rod 13 within the body 16. Secured to the upper end of the body16 is the lower end of the rod 80 the upper end of which is pivotallyconnected to one arm of the angle bracket 58, as at Ma, (see Fig. 7).The rod 80 passes through the fork l2, and secured to said rod above thefork so as to be engaged by the latter when the float H is raised is anabutment 8|. The raising of the float H thus lifts the rod 89 which,being pivoted to the angle bracket 58, causes the same to rock, carryingwith it the mercury switch 59.

The operation of the parts heretofore described is as follows: Thecylinder is placed below the surface of the water to be pumped, the airinlet passage 360 being connected to a source of compressed air and theexhaust pipe 36d extending above the water line, the electricalconductors 63 and 64 being connected to a source of electricity, and thewater discharge pipe 29 leading to the point of utilization. Assumingthat the cylinder Ill contains no water, the floats 61 and II will be intheir lowermost positions because of which the rods 13 and 80 will alsobe in lowered position. The mercury switch 59 will therefore have beenrocked so as to energize the solenoid 59, thus causing the rotary valve36 to have closed the air inlet passage 36c and opened the air exhaustpassage 36d. Hydrostatic pressure will then lift the foot valve l6 andcause the cylinder 10 to fill with water. As the water rises in thecylinder II], the float 61 will be raised until its supporting frame, 66engages the stop 68 and is thereby held against upward movement beyondhorizontal position. As the water continues to rise, it raises the float'H which lifts the rod. 80 because of engagement'of the fork 12 with theabutment 8|, lifting of the rod 80 after the frame 65 has been stoppedin a horizontal position being permitted by the slip joint 15. This willrock the bracket 58 and cause the mercury switch to so operate as toenergize the solenoid 49, and cause the core 5| to move thereinto. Thiswill cause the valve 36 to rotate so as to open the air inlet passage36c and close the exhaust passage 36d.

The compressed air which will then flow into the cylinder ill willproduce sufficient pressure theresume a horizontal position so that themercury therein does not engage and electrically connect either pair ofcontacts. No current is then flowing through either solenoid, thusgiving them an opportunityto cool, and also permitting the water to bedischarged to a level below the float 61 before the exhaust passage 38dis again opened. When the water recedes below the float 61 permittingthe same to fall, the mercury switch is so rocked as to assume theposition described at the outset which permits the compressed air toescape from the cylinder I0 and allows it to again fill with water.These operations then continue so long as electricity is supplied to theconductors 63 and 64. It will be understood that if one charge of waterforced from the cylinder I0 is not suflicient to reach the point ofutilization it will be held in the discharge pipe, above the cylinder,by the ball check valve 22a and will be forced out by a subsequentpumping operation. Under some conditions it may be considered advisableto employ auxiliary units indicated generally at A, in addition to theterminal unit just described. These auxiliary units will be arranged oneabove another in the discharge pipe line in the manner shown in Fig. 8.The construction and operation .of each auxiliary unit will be identicalwith that of the terminal unit excepting that air inlet and exhaustpipes 82 and 83, respectively, will extend downwardly from above thesurface of the ground and will pass completely through each auxiliaryunit and into the terminal or lowermost unit. Each auxiliary unit willthen be served by branch pipes 82a and 83a leading respectively fromthese main pipes. In a similar manner, the electrical conductors 63 and64 will be arranged in conduits 84 passing through each auxiliary unitto the terminal unit. Each auxiliary unit will also differ from theterminal unit in that its lower end will be closed by a cover plate 85which is unperforated except for a central opening to receive thedischarge pipe 29, and an upwardly opening check valve 86 will take theplace of the coupling 24 in the terminal unit. The screen I9 and closureplate 2| of the terminal unit will also be omitted from the auxiliaryunits. When auxiliary units are used the terminal unit discharges to theauxiliary unit next thereabove, which unit raises the liquid to the nextauxiliary unit, and so on until the water is discharged at the pointof'utilization.

What is claimed, is:

1. A pump of the character described comprising a tank having a waterinlet valve at its lower end, a head on the upper end of the tank havinga recess therein, a water discharge pipe opening through the head andhaving an end positioned within the tank, said discharge pipe having awater inlet therein, air inlet and outlet passages communicating withthe interior of the tank through said head, a valve for controlling saidair passages, solenoids in the recess, a core mounted for reciprocationwithin the solenoids and operatively connected to said valve, means forsupplying a current of electricity to the solenoids, means forcontrolling said current to alternately energize the solenoids wherebyto re? ciprocate the core, means operable by water in the tank foractuating the current controlling means, and means for supplyingcompressed air to the air inlet passage.

5 2. A pump of the character described comprising a tank having a waterinlet valve at its lower end, a head on the upper end of the tank havinga recess therein, a water discharge pipe opening through the headand'having an end positioned within the tank, said discharge pipe havinga Water inlet therein, air inlet and outlet passages communicating with.the interior of the tank through said head, a valve for controlling saidair passages, solenoids disposed within the recess, a core mounted forreciprocation within the solenoids and operatively connected to saidvalve, means for supplying a current of electricity to the solenoids,means for controlling said current to alternately energize the solenoidswhereby to reciprocate the armature, means operated by water in the tankadapted to cause energizing of one of said solenoids, like operatedmeans adapted to cause energizing of the other of said solenoids, andmeans for supplying compressed air to the air inlet passage.

3. A pump of the character described comprising a tank having a waterinlet valve at its lower end, a head on the upper end of the tank havinga recess therein, a water discharge pipe opening 2 through the head andhaving an end positioned within the tank, said discharge pipe having awater inlet therein, air inlet and outlet passages communicating withthe interior of the tank through said head, a valve for controlling saidan passages, a supporting member mounted in the recess, a tube carriedby said member, solenoids surrounding the tube, a core mounted forreciprocation within the tube, said core being operatively connected tosaid valve, stops carried by the supporting member for limiting themovement of the core, means for supplying a current of electricity tothe solenoids, means for controlling said current to alternatelyenergize the solenoids whereby to reciprocate the core, means operableby water in the tank for actuatingthe current controlling means, andmeans for supplying compressed air to the air inlet passage. 4. A pumpof the character described comprising a tank having a water inlet valveat its lower end, a head on the upper end of the tank and having arecess therein, a water discharge pipe opening through the head andhaving an end positioned within the tank, said discharge pipe having awater inlet therein, air inlet and outlet passages communicating withthe interior of the tank through said head, a valve for controlling saidair passages, a supporting member mounted in the recess, a tube carriedby said member, a pair of solenoids surrounding the tube, a coremountedfor reciprocation within the tube, said core being operativelyconnected to said valve, stops carried by the supporting member forlimiting the movement of the core, means for supplying a current ofelectricity to the solenoids, means for controlling said current toalternately energize the solenoids whereby to reciprocate the core,means operated by water in the tank adapted to cause energizing of oneof said solenoids, like operated means adapted to cause energizing ofthe other of said solenoids, and means for supplying compressed air tothe air inlet passage.

5. A pump of the character described comprising a tank having a waterinlet valve at its lower end, a head on the upper end of the tank havinga recess therein, a water discharge pipe opening through the head andhaving an end positioned within the tank, said discharge pipe having aWater inlet therein, air inlet and outlet passages communicating withthe interior of the tank through said head, a valve for controlling saidair passages, a supporting member mounted in the recess, a tube carriedby said member, a pair of solenoids surrounding the tube, a core mountedfor reciprocation with in the tube, said core being operativelyconnected to said valve, stops carried by the supporting member forlimiting the movement of the core, means for supplying a current ofelectricity to the solenoids, means for controlling said current toalternately energize the solenoids whereby to reciprocate the core,means operated by water in the tank for actuating the currentcontrolling means to energize one of said solenoids, like operated meansadapted to actuate the current controlling means for energizing theother of said solenoids, and means for supplying compressed air to theair inlet passage.

6. t A pump of the character described comprising a tank having a waterinlet valve at its lower end, a head on the upper end of the tank having,a recess therein, a water discharge pipe opening through the head andhaving an end positioned .within the tank, said discharge pipehaving awater inlet therein, air inlet and outlet passages communicating withthe interior of the tank through said head, a valve for controlling saidair passages, solenoids disposed within the recess, a core mounted forreciprocation within the solenoids and operatively connected to saidvalve, means for supplying a current of electricity to the solenoids,means for controlling said current to alternately energize the solenoidswhereby to reciprocate the core, means operated by water in the tank foractuating the current controlling means to energize one of saidsolenoids, like op erated means adapted to actuate the currentcontrolling means for energizing the other 01 said solenoids, and meansfor supplying compressed air to the air inlet passage.

7. A pump of the character described comprising a tank having a valvecontrolled water inlet at its lower end, a head on the upper end of thetank having a recess therein, a water discharge pipe opening through thehead and having an end positioned within the tank, said discharge pipehaving a water inlet therein, air inlet and outlet passagescommunicating with the interior of the tank through said head, a valvefor controlling said air passages, solenoids mounted within the recess,a core mounted for reciprocation within the solenoids and operativelyconnected to said valve, means for supplying a current of electricity tothe solenoids, a switch for controlling said current to alternatelyenergize the solenoids whereby to reciprocate the core, an operating rodhaving an end connected to the switch and an end extending into thetank, a float mounted within the tank and adapted to engage and operatesaid rod for moving the switch to cause energizing of one of thesolenoids, a float within the tank connected to said rod and adapted tooperate the same for moving the switch to cause energizing of the otherof the solenoids, and means for supplying compressed air to the airinlet passage.

8'. A pump of the character described comprising a tank having avalve-controlled water inlet at its lower end, a head on the upper endof the tank, a water discharge pipe opening through the head and havingan end positioned within the tank, said discharge pipe having a waterinlet therein, air inlet and outlet passages communicating with theinterior of the tank through said head, a valve for controlling said airpassages, solenoids associated with the head, a core mounted forreciprocation within the solenoids and operatively connected to saidvalve, means for supplying a current of electricity to the solenoids, aswitch for controlling said current to alternately energize thesolenoids whereby to reciprocate the core, an operating rod having anend connected to the switch and an end extending into the tank, a floatmounted within the tank and adapted to engage and operate said rod formoving the switch to cause energizing of one of the solenoids, a secondfloat within the tank. an operating rod connected to the second float, ajoint connecting said rods adapted to permit limited longitudinalmovement of each with respect to the other, said second-named floatbeing adapted to move said switch to cause energizing of the othersolenoid, and means for supplying compressed air to the air inletpassage.

9. A pump of the character described comprising a tank having a valvecontrolled water inlet at its lower end, a head on the upper end of thetank and having a recess therein, a water discharge pipe opening throughthe head and having an end positioned within the tank, said dischargepipe having a water inlet therein, air inlet and outlet passagescommunicating with the interior of the tank through said head, a valvefor controlling said air passages, a supporting member mounted in therecess, a tube carried by said member, solenoids surrounding the tube, acore mounted for reciprocation within the tube, said core beingoperatively connected to said valve, stops carried by the supportingmember for limiting the movement of the core, means for supplying acurrent of electricity to the solenoids, a switch for controlling saidcurrent to alternately energize the solenoids whereby to reciprocate thecore, an operating rod having an end connected to the switch and an endextending into the tank, a float adapted to engage and operate said rodfor moving the switch to cause energizing of one of the solenoids, afloat connected to said rod adapted to operate the same for moving theswitch to cause energizing of the other of the solenoids, and means forsupplying compressed air to the air inlet passage.

10. A pump of the character described comprising a tank having a waterinlet valve at its lower end, a head on the upper end of the tank, aWater discharge pipe opening through the head and having an endpositioned within the tank, said discharge pipe having a water inlettherein, air inlet and outlet passages communicating with the interiorof the tank through said head, a valve for controlling said airpassages, a pair of solenoids associated with the head, a core mountedfor reciprocation within the solenoids and operatively connected to saidvalve, means for supplying a current of electricity to the solenoids, aswitch for controlling said current to alternately energize thesolenoids whereby to reciprocate the core, an operating rod having anend connected to the switch and an end extending into the tank, a floatmounted within the tank and adapted to engage and operate said rod formoving the switch to cause energizing of one of the solenoids, a secondfloat within the tank, an operating rod connected to the second float, ajoint connecting said rods adapted to permit limited longitudinalmovement of each with respect to the other, said second-named floatbeing adapted to move said switch to cause energizing of the othersolenoid, and means for supplying compressed air to the air inletpassage.

11. A pump of the character described comprising a tank having a waterinlet at its lower end, a head on the upper end of the tank having arecess therein and a bore therethrough, a water discharge pipe having anend supported in the lower end of the bore and an end positioned withinthe tank, a water inlet in said pipe, a water discharge pipe supportedin the upper end of the bore, a check valve within said bore adapted toclose the first-named discharge pipe against receding water, a passageleading from said bore through the head, a closure for the passage, airinlet and outlet passages communicating with the interior of the tank, avalve for controlling said air passages, solenoids in the recess, a coremounted for reciprocation within the solenoids and operatively connectedto said valve, means for supplying a current of electricity to thesolenoids, means for controlling saidcurrent to alternately energize thesolenoids whereby to reciprocate the core, means operable by water inthe tank for actuating the current-controlling means, and means forsupplying compressed air to the inlet passage.

12. A pump of the character described comprisinga tank having a waterinlet valve at its lower end, a head on the upper end of the tank havinga recess therein, a water discharge pipe opening through the head andhaving an end positioned within the tank, said discharge pipe having a.water inlet therein, air inlet and outlet passages communicating withthe interior of the tank through said head, a valve for controlling saidair passages, solenoids in the recess, a core mounted for reciprocationwithin the solenoids and operatively connected to said valve, means forsupplying a current of electricity to the solenoids, rockable means forcontrolling said current whereby to alternately energize the solenoids,a rod connected to said rockable means, a float mounted within the tankadapted to raise the rod, a float mounted within the tank beneath thefirst-named float, a slip-joint connecting said rod and second-namedfloat, and means for supplying compressed air to the air inlet passages.I

JOHN F. GOULD.

